We chose this day to launch a free, fair and fearless newspaper in a city that’s one of India’s most free-spirited and ambitious.

The Express Group comes to Bangalore as National Standard.

Journalism of courage is our calling. It’s about being uncompromising on ethics and integrity, fairness and accuracy. It’s about excellence in reporting and analysis, interpretation and insight. Qualities demanded by readers in Bangalore, the nation’s knowledge and technology capital.

We will work to translate the news — and noise — of New Delhi to help you make sense of how it affects your life in the city. Like Bangalore itself, National Standard will reflect the rootedness of a gentle, generous city and its unmatched dynamism. We will report on what fuels and what stands in the way of this city’s dreams.

As a newspaper, we will strive to be as complete as Bangalore’s bise bele bath, that delicious mix of rice, lentils, vegetables and spices.

From this morning, we begin a conversation and look forward to listening to you and your ideas of what good journalism should do for you.

You will soon hear from us details of what we have in store — the finest news and commentary, memorably told stories, all packaged and presented in National Standard, in print and online.

To subscribe, call Sonia Shine at 08022231903 or email sonia.shine@expressindia.com